Flamborough

Caught a bus today to the North Landing next to Flamborough Cliffs. Our mission was to see a seal and a puffin. The bus was packed full of tourists but hardly any got off there. Why not? We had no idea as the bus just turned around and went back to Bridlington. They definitely missed a treat. 

The cliff top walk was beautiful and thousands of sea birds were nesting on the vertical cliffs. We tried really hard to find a puffin amongst them and got excited about some darker coloured birds all nesting together. After zooming in though we realised that they were just pigeons. At least it started with a P.

Sadly failing with that task, we spoke to two people with binoculars who assured us that there was puffins around.

We passed the lighthouses, both the new and old one to reach the Drinking Dinosaur. It takes a little bit of imagination but it was definitely there.

Just around the corner, behind the dinosaurs tail were the seals. Lots of them were bobbing about in the sea, and a few were lazing around on the beach.

After that success we decided to carry on along the cliffs all the way back to Bridlington. Stopping at The Ship pub for a restorative pint. 

Pocklington to Bridlington, Way of the Roses completed

 Fairly early start from Pocklington and straight into the Yorkshire Wolds. This was beautiful rolling countryside, but the best bit was that the roads rolled slowly upwards, so the cycling was nice and not too taxing.

Over the top and almost endless gliding gently downhill on the other side. 

Then we reached Driffield and the whole area from miles around was full of gridlocked traffic. We whizzed past it all and as we got close to the centre we found out that it was for the famous Driffield Show. We had never heard of it, and it is only on for one day each year, and is a giant agricultural show.

We quite fancied going in, but it was full of tractors and big stuff and there was no room for anything in our panniers.

Not too long afterwards we reached the outskirts of our final destination, and for the first time on the trip, we lost our signposts and our way, but eventually got to the seafront and the official finishing line.

We celebrated with some fantastic fish and chips, but I can't say that we are loving Bridlington. 

York to Pocklington

We couldn't stay in York and not go for an early morning sightseeing jog around the city. We set off so early that the city wall gates had not even been opened, so we had to just do the planned run in reverse.

It was nice and quiet with mainly only delivery vans on the streets and the market stallholders setting up for the day.

We stopped to admire the Minster and were on our way again.

Then back up on to the now opened wall and round to our hotel.

Very pleased with the route that Darren created for us.

After checking out and loading up we set off along a disused railway cycle path for a quick visit to Alex and Han.

Some nice art along the way, and then we headed for our overnight destination. The terrain is still very flat so we sped quickly and easily along to Pocklington. This is a nice small town, and we are staying in a little chalet in the car park of The Feathers pub. 

Back to normality, and there's nothing wrong with that. 

Harrogate to York

Before setting off today we had a little trip to a fantastic bakery for a lovely waggon wheel shaped delicacy. Lemon and blueberry.

We didn't have far to go as our first stop was in Knaresborough. I remember it from an episode of Landscape artist of the year, and was looking forward to standing on the spot where they set up their painting pods.

We weren't disappointed as it was really beautiful and full of tourists having fun. Lots of them hired rowing boats and were so terrible at it, but we didn't give have a go so I can't say if we'd have been any better.

Then it was on to a disused railway line that ran for miles. The landscape is now almost completely flat, so we are using hardly any battery on our way.

Tonight we are staying at The Grand Hotel in the centre of York and it is very fancy. 

Every other night we wheel our bikes to the hotel reception, check in and then either drag our bikes upstairs up a set of stairs or in the lift. We then usually have to squeeze around things to get in the bed. 

That didn't happen here, and uniformed porters whisked our luggage to our rather large room and took our bikes to a private car park down the road. It was very disconcerting and luxurious, but we don't have to get used to this style of living as it isn't happening again on this trip.

We then decided to enjoy the hotel in style and went for afternoon tea in one of the many restaurants. It was lovely and very classy, but I was rather jealous of the mum and son at the next table who had gone for the Harry Potter Wizard themed tea, complete with test tube drinks and chocolate broomstick shaped cakes.

Finally, we took an evening stroll along the city walls to walk off some of the calories. 

Some might say that was too many cakes in one day, and I forgot to mention the giant 99 at Knaresborough. Perhaps a savoury day tomorrow. 

Day off in Harrogate

Today was a lovely, relaxing sitting around day in Harrogate. Not for Daz though who decided to go for a 16.5 kilometre run around the countryside. He took a few photos on the way, but I am not sad to have missed it.

Perhaps l might regret missing this training session when we run a half marathon in four weeks time, but I'll cross that bridge when I get to it.

I went for a little walk around and found the Japanese garden in the famous Valley Gardens.

Later I organised an afternoon stroll where we returned to the Valley Gardens to listen to a local choir sing some very modern hits.

Then a quick selfie and a trip to the Pump Room to find out more about the Victorian craze of taking the waters to cure many illnesses.

The Pump Room was pretty boring and the water smelt really disgusting, so we moved quickly on to the Mercer Art Gallery. It sounded good online, but at the moment they have removed all of the usual paintings and replaced them with a temporary exhibition of the runners up of a modern art competition. The winners were at the Leeds Gallery and instead we got this:-

Two giant pink blow up teardrops which were our favourite item, in fact, the only one that we liked. But we really don't have room in our house to display them. 

Ripon to Harrogate - busy Saturday

 Up and about fairly early and leaving Ripon which was another pretty town, this one with lots of knitted and crocheted creatures.

It was just a quick cycle back the way we came yesterday to Fountains Abbey and the parkrun. A two lap course around the ruined Abbey and it's grounds. In my opinion the most beautiful parkrun course that we have ever visited.

After a nice break in the cafe we set off again. The countryside has changed and is much less hilly, although I made good use of the battery along the way. We stopped briefly to look at Ripley Castle and over the edge of a very high viaduct.

Yet another stop, this time at the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Harlow Carr. It was very noticeable how dry the garden was, and it made me feel a bit better about the state of my own gardens, although it's always a shame to wish for rain.

Finally, a last push down to just outside the Travelodge in Harrogate at 2.24pm. Check in was officially at three, but often hotels let you in a little early. Not this one, although I could pay a fee to do so. Instead we spent it at the pub exactly opposite.